Tunde Abatan, Publisher/Editor, New Dawn, Newdawnngr.com shares his online publishing experience in this interview.
What is working for you and what is not?
It has been a worthwhile experience running an online publication with its challenges. I have been used to regular newspaper terrain for almost three decades.
Contrary to what many believe, running an online publication is more demanding in terms of delivery of good and credible stories, interviews and special materials that should stand your site out in the midst of several publications.
Though the advantage of technology is there to make a difference to what obtains in the past, the need for credibility, Genuity and creativity in news delivery has made it a challenging preoccupation especially since sources of profit are tougher to attain.
However, the need to attract more readers to your site with good stories, interviews and writing skills for today’s upwardly mobile readers is more compelling.
What are the challenges you coping with?
One of the challenges is attracting reasonable advertisement either from Google/Ad-sense or corporate adverts in the country. This itself is a function of your metric on ratings which is more demanding and competitive considering their conditions based on readership and spread of your viewers and readers. Overall, prompt delivery of good stories, interviews counts much to attain above.
What have you had to learn?
Over the past three years, one has learnt the need for consistency, hard work and creativity in news delivery and improvement in the content generation which are factors that contribute to the sustenance of the site.
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What kinds of investments have you had to make to sustain your operations?
Investment in terms of financial resources to enable extensive news gathering and creativity in news delivery and content formation.
How financially rewarding has your platform been?
Over the years it has been slow in attracting enough financial reward but as time moves on, the gradual inflow of adverts and improvement in site views/metrics has led to relative stability but more is required to hire more hands to broaden the scope and coverage of the site.
What is your advice for aspiring website publishers?
Aspiring publishers must have cut out for themselves clear niche and unique content and focus. A clearly defined coverage area must be designed and sustained to make the site stand out from the crowd. It requires hard work to move ahead of the ordinary.